Archie Raymond Higgins

Funeral services for Archie Higgins, age 93, of Clarinda, IA, who entered into peace Monday, May 31, 2010 at Bryan LGH East Medical Center, Lincoln, NE, were held Friday, June 4, 2010 at 10:30 a.m. at the Ritchie Funeral Home, Clarinda, Iowa with Reverend Karen Bash officiating. Visitation with the family was held 5-7 p.m., Thursday, June 3, 2010 at the funeral home. Burial was in the Clarinda Cemetery, Clarinda, Iowa. Memorials may be directed to the First Christian Church. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family on our website at, www.ritchiefuneralhome.com under Obituaries. Arrangements were entrusted to the Ritchie Funeral Home of Clarinda, Iowa. Archie Raymond Higgins was born April 13, 1917 in Nodaway County, MO the son of James Marsh Higgins and Maude Mabel (Guthrie) Higgins. Archie, the fourth of James and Maude's seven children, grew up in Northwest Missouri, for a short time in Colorado, and Southwest IA. On January 14, 1939, Archie was united in marriage in Clarinda, Iowa to Bertha Maxine Norris, daughter of George Edward Norris and Bertha Irene (Gorrell) Norris. Archie and Maxine were blessed with four children: Edwin, Rodney, Janice and Chris. Over the years Archie did farming and worked in Clarinda, IA at Swift & Company, Miller's Creamery and Thompson Wholesale. Archie was a member of First Christian Church, Disciples of Christ, Clarinda, Iowa and lived his Christianity quietly and steadfast. After retirement he and Maxine enjoyed camping in their trailer throughout the Mid West. Archie enjoyed gardening, hunting and fishing. He was always proud of his weedless garden and enjoyed sharing his vegetables with family and friends. Family and friends also enjoyed many pheasant dinners from his love of pheasant hunting. And Archie had a true love of fishing in that he could spend all day in a boat fishing, and still be happy even if the fish were not biting. Left to cherish Archie's memory are his wife of 71 years Maxine Higgins of Clarinda, IA; son Norris Edwin Higgins and wife Anna of Tulsa, OK; son Rodney Raymond Higgins of Minneapolis, Minnesota; daughter Janice Elaine (Higgins) Dalbey and husband Dennis of Clarinda, Iowa; and son David Chris Higgins and wife Diane of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Archie is also survived by six grandchildren and seven great grandchildren: Jody Lee (Higgins) Pionkowski and husband Chris and son Gregory of Eau Claire, Wisconsin; Terry Dean Higgins and wife Leslie and children Jessica, Laura, Jonathan, and Matthew of San Antonio, Texas; Amy Jo (Higgins) Howard and husband Randy, son Andrew Higgins, daughter Marina Howard of Henderson, Nevada; Randy Scot Higgins and Andi of Quincy, Massachusetts; Blake Marshall Higgins of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and Drew Brooke Higgins of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Two sisters survive Archie: Mabel Irene (Higgins) Barnett of Lincoln, NE and Verla Maxine (Higgins) Smith of Sandstone, Minnesota. Preceding Archie in death were his parents, two brothers Harold Leroy and Guy Mainard, and two sisters Ella Mae and Ruby Jean. May God grant comfort and strength to those who mourn Archie's passing.